Pull box



SEI

Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PULL Box Raymond H. Olley and CarlH. Bissell, Syracuse, N. Y., assignors to Crouse-Hinds Company,Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 29, 1935,Serial No. 33,653

4 Claims.

'I'his invention relates, in general, to electrical conduit fittings,and more particularly to what is known as pull boxes.

To those familiar with the art, a pull box comprises a metallic ttingprovided with means for attachment to the conduit line, and soconstructed that the box may be opened to permit the pulling of wires,or cables, through the conduit and if desired, to permit the splicing ofwires or cables. The tting is of such construction that the work openingmay be closed after the pulling of the wires, or splicing of the same.

An object of the present invention is a pull box comprising a rigid,one-piece body which may be initially included in the conduit run, orline, when the same is made up or installed.

Pull boxes in common use are constructed of a number of diierent parts,and the adjoining ends of the conduit line are not rigidly connecteduntil after the work of pulling the wires, or splicingthe cables, hasbeen eiected. The importance and desirability of a pull box which may beinitially incorporated in the conduit run to form a continuous rigidconduit line will be readily appreciated by practical Wiremen.

Another object of this invention is a pull box employing a one-piece,easily manipulated closure for the opening in the box.

Another objectof the invention is means whereby the sleeve or closurefor the box may be conveniently secured and held in place.

A further object of this invention is a pull box for electrical conduitlines which serves the dual purpose of a pull box and a sealing tting,whereby the tting may be used as a pull box, and after the pullingand/or slicing of the cables has been completed, the box may be used ina most convenient manner as a sealing tting to seal oil one part of theconduit run from the other.

The invention consists vin the novel features and in the combinationsand constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawing in which like 'characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a view, in elevation, showing the body member, the viewcomprising a top plan relative to the trough portion of the body.

Figure 2 is an axial sectional View, partly in elevation, and partlybroken away, of the complete fitting.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the body section shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a, cross sectional view of the body taken on lines 4 4,Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a lengthwise, sectional view of the fitting attached at oneend to a conduit arranged in vertical position showing a sleeve ofmo'diiled form.

The invention comprises generally, a pull box including a rigid bodymember formed with cylindrical end portions and being trough shaped, orprovided with an elongated opening in one side thereof, intermediate theend portions, a removable' cylindrical sleeve enclosing the body andforming a closure for the opening of the body, the end portions of thebody being provided with. means for attachment to a conduit line.

I0 designates generally a one-piece, rigid body member provided withcylindrical end portions i i, E2. The central portion I3 of the bodyintermediate the cylindrical ends I I, I2, is formed trough shaped incross section, as indicated in Figures l and 4. 0r, in other words, thebody i0 is provided with an elongated work opening in one side thereofextending, as here shown, from one cylindrical end portion to the other.

The end portions II, I2, may be provided with any suitable means forattachment to a conduit.

As here shown, the ends are threaded internally as at I4 to permit theends of the conduit to be screwed into the body. However, the ends II,I2, obviously could be provided with set screws, or threadless conduitconnectors if desired.

The cylindrical end portions II, i2, adjacent the ends of the opening inthe body, are here shown as threaded externally as at i5, i6, thepurpose of which will be described hereinafter. The outer part of theend portions I I, I2, may be provided with suitable corrugations or ribsIl to provide a suitable wrench grip, while the body il) is beingsecured to the ends of the conduits.

It will be observed that the one-piece, rigid body portion iii isinitially secured to the ends of the conduits, and the conduit line canaccordingly be permanently installed in place, and the entire run ofconduit completed. The side opening in the body provides a maximum workopening through which the wires, or cables, may be conveniently pulledand if desired, spliced.

A conveniently operable means is provided for closing the opening in theside of the body, being here shown in the nature of a cylindrical sleeve20. The sleeve is of such proportions in diameter and length as toenclose the body II) with the ends of the sleeves coacting with thecylindrical ends of the body, the sleeve forming a closure over theopening in the body. The

As here shown, the ends of the sleeve are provided with internal threads2| complemental to the external threads I6, I2, on the end portions Il,l2, of the body Il. Preferably. these threads are formed in the natureof a running thread whereby the sleeve 2l may be conveniently sleevedover the body by threading the sleeve over either cylindrical endportion Il or I2.

In non-hazardous and dry installations, the end portions Il, I2, o! thebody may be machined cylindrical instead of being threaded as at i5,

II, and the ends oi the sleeve 2li may be bored to have a sliding trelative to the machined outer portions of the ends' ot the body,whereby the sleeve 2l may be simply sleeved, or telescoped, over thebody. However, where it is desired to have an explosion resistingiltting, the threaded joint is preferable.

Means is employed to prevent accidental displacement oi the sleeve fromthe body. As here shown, this comprises a split ring 22 which snaps intoan annular groove 2l formed adjacent the outer ends oi the threads Ii,It, in the end portionsdl, I2, of the body. A snap ring 22 may beemployed at each end of the body. The groove 2l is semi-circular incross section permitting a substantial portion of the ring 22 to extendradially outward to coact with the end of the sleeve 2l. If desired, thesleeve 2B may be provided with a set screw. or other suitable holdingmeans although we have found the snap ring preferable in actualpractice.

In Figure 5 is shown a modified type ot sleeve which is provided with aboss 2l formed with an aperture extending through the wall of the sleeveand being threaded internally. This type of sleeve is employed where itis desired to use the pull box as a sealing tlttting to effectively sealoi! one section o! the conduit run from the remainder of the run. Whenused in this manner, the lower end of the iltting, it the run be invertical position, is packed with asbestos, or other suitable material28 to prevent the sealing compound from passing around the conductors 21to the lower part oi the conduit run. A plumbers elbow 2l is thenscrewed into the boss 25, and the sealing compound is poured into thebox, it being understood that the sleeve 20 is previously adjustedrelative to the body Il so that the opening in the boss 25 is inalinement with the elongated opening in the body lil. The sealingcompound is poured in until it reaches a level at the bottom side of theaperture in the sleeve. 'I'he elbow 28 is then unscrewed, and a suitableplug screwed into the aperture of the sleeve. When the conduit line ishorizontal, both ends of the tting are packed with the asbestos, orsuitable material, about the conductors 21, and the sealing compound ispoured in until the fitting is illled.

The pull box is installed by attaching the ends o! the conduit to thebody III, the sleeve 20 being slid over one oi' the conduit endspreviously. Aiter sleeve 2U is removably secured to the body Il.

the wires, or cables, have been pulled through the conduit, the sleeve20 is threaded over the body and secured in place.

It will be observed that we have devised a most practical and economicalpull box consisting o! a minimum number oi parts and possesses manyadvantages over the pull boxes now in common use.

What we claim is:

1. A pull box for electrical conduit lines comprising a body troughshaped in cross section and being provided with cylindrical endportions, said end portions being formed with conduit receiving passagesand being threaded externally, a cylindrical sleeve having internalthreads complemental to the external threads on said end portions, saidsleeve being removable axially from said body when the same is connectedin the conduit line 2. A pull box for electrical conduit linescomprising a body trough shaped in cross section and being provided withcylindrical end portions, said end portions being formed with conduitreceiving passages and being threaded externally, a cylindrical sleevehaving internal threads complemental to the external threads on said endportions, said sleeve being removable axially over either end oi saidbody when the same is connected in the conduit line, means detachablycarried by said end portions of the body and coacting with said sleeveto prevent removal ot the same from the body.

3. A pull box for electrical conduit lines comprising a body troughshaped in cross section and being provided with cylindrical endportions, said end portions being formed with conduit receiving passagesand being provided with external threads, a sleeve of greater lengththan the trough section of the body and being provided at its ends withinternal threads complemental to the external threads on the endportions oi the body, whereby said sleeve is removable axially from thebody when the same is connected in the conduit line.

4. A pull box for electrical conduit lines comprising a body troughshaped in cross section and being provided with cylindrical endportions, said end portions being formed with conduit receiving passagesand being threaded externally, a cylindrical sleeve of greater lengththan the trough section of the body and being provided at its ends withinternal threads complemental to the external threads on the endportions of the body, and having an enlarged bore between the threadedends, whereby said sleeve is removable axially from the body when thesame is connected in the conduit line, and means cooperable with the endportions of the body and the ends of the sleeve to prevent relativeaxial movement between the sleeve and the body.

RAYMOND H. OLLEY. CARL H. BISSELL.

